How to keep your pool fresh between maintenance visits

San Diego pool service professionals do most of the pool work so you can play. But in between visits, you'll want to keep the swimming area clean just like any other part of the house. Here are some ways how.

Keep garbage out
A lot items can fall into the pool in between scheduled maintenance. In an instant, a storm can dirty up the swimming pool with debris. Sticks, animals, trash and oils or lotions from people's bodies can get into the water causing it to appear unclean. When things start to get icky, head to the skimmer basket because it catches a lot of these items and it could be clogged, suggested This Old House. Remove items that are floating around the pool or have sunken to the bottom by using your net. You can also clean out the water by vacuuming the pool, which should take no longer than 30 minutes at a time, suggested the source.

Maintain the areas around the pool
Minimize the chances of leaves and branches falling into the water by doing some pruning and trimming. Many people have planted trees and flowers around their swimming areas to make  them look pretty but if you haven't done the gardening yet there are a few things you should know. Take the roots and leaves into consideration, affirmed Random Harvest Nursery. To make life easier, pick a tree that may only shed for a span of time throughout the year instead of a constantly, suggested the source. Also, don't plant a tree with aggressive roots too close to the pool area because they can damage it. 

Keep an eye on chemicals
While it's best to let a professional handle pool chemicals because they can be hazardous, you should be vigilant about any changes . An unbalanced pool can get swimmers sick or irritate their skin. This means either too much or too little chlorine. It fluctuates when bodies and other elements enter the water. The chlorine levels should always be between 1.0 to 3.0 parts per million, affirmed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pool owners should also keep an eye on pH levels. The recommended range is between 7.2 and 7.8, according to the CDC. The pH and chlorine interact with one another and can make chemical levels too high or low. Chlorine might not effectively kill bacteria if the pH is lower than it should be. Oftentimes, you'll notice if the chemical levels are off because the water will change colors. If you suspect they're not normal, keep swimmers out of the water and call a professional. It's not the worth of getting sick or injured. 

Be cognizant of damage
Finally, keep a close watch on any noticeable damages to the deck or any other parts of the pool. If there's a piece of loose deck or unsafe tile, place a marker near it so visitors and swimmers know it's there so they don't get hurt.

If you're unsure if the pool is safe or if it requires maintenance sooner than the routinely scheduled appointment, call San Diego pool service professionals to take a look at it.